May 13th, 2008
11:11 AM ET
12 years ago

Carville: Obama likely to win nomination

James Carville is supporting Hillary Clinton's White House bid.

James Carville is supporting Hillary Clinton's White House bid.

(CNN) - James Carville has been one of Hillary Clinton's most energetic defenders, but on Monday he all but declared Barack Obama will become the Democratic nominee for president.

Speaking to students at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, Carville argued Clinton should stay in through the final nominating contest in early June, but said the Democratic tide appears to be moving in Obama's direction.

"I still hear some dogs barking," Carville said, according to The State newspaper. "I'm for Senator Clinton, but I think the great likelihood is that Obama will be the nominee."


Asked about who might share a ticket with Obama, Carville floated Clinton's name, as well as that of Clinton ally Gen. Wesley Clark. Carville also mentioned Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg as possible running mates, according the Greenville News.

soundoff (374 Responses)
  1. Ben

    For everyone on here that say Hillary got the "Shaft", wake up people. Hillary Lost this election because she didn't have a plan past Super Tuesday. She overlooked Obama and thought it would over then. She just needs to face the facts. As for Florida and Michigan, talk to you state representatives, they are the ones who took you vote away from you, not Obama or Hillary. Even with Florida and Michigan Obama is still ahead in the popular vote. Hillary will win WV and Kentucky, but Obama will win South Dakota, Montana, and Oregon.

    May 13, 2008 10:32 am at 10:32 am |
  2. Me

    It appears Mr. Carville has finally heard the fat lady singing!!!

  3. fred

    Tracy, either way...Obama WILL NOT get the vote!!





  4. Mark

    Point being all you hear is the Clinton camp saying West Virginia and Kentucky are the turning points for her run to become the nominee but hasnt that been said by her camp about every state that is next to vote sense she is behinde. Also its a clear fact that she wants the DNC to change the roles about Florida and Michigan when those to states broke the rules by moving the primaries up. How many rules would she want changed if she does become the nominee think people just think that sounds like the same under hand dealing from politicians that we have been putting up with for years. So stop look and listen

  5. HH

    One thing I can agree with him on!

  6. PSmith

    Listen Hillarians and Listen GOOD...

    I pledge to start a new campaign that if Hillary does not win the nomination, that we all write her name in the ballot come November...

    SNL, although it's a joke, said that Hillary backers are racist...If this is true then why can't they call Obama backers racist too. He's getting almost all of the black votes. Are you telling me black voters like Obama for his ideas and experience? BULL!

    Hillary will prevail....

  7. Jackson

    Hillary or Bust!: Yeah, Good thing America didn't elect and inexperienced candidate in '92. Oh, wait...

  8. Paigner

    I respect the right of anyone to vote the way they want. I don't like the tone of the comments about Mrs Clinton or about Mr. Obama. Neither one of these people are evil. I can look at Mrs Clinton's record over the last 20+ years and get a pretty good idea of what she has deemed important. Mr. Obama has about 6 years on the National stage. I don't get enough of a picture to even guess what his values are. What people seem to forget is that very few Americans will actually vote for the Presidency. The Electoral College is the real decider of the Presidency. Your Vote is just a wish. Lets hope the Majority gets their wish in November.

    May 13, 2008 10:33 am at 10:33 am |
  9. Catherine

    PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF THE NATIONS....can the Obama supporters and Clinton supporters stop being so mean toward each other. Remember....we have one common goal and that is to put he Democrat back into the Oval Office in November.

    Let's come together regardless of our differences and defeat McCain!!!!!

  10. Johnny Be Good

    This amounts to when Walter Concrite said we cant win Vietnam. This is really big. So, can I hope that she will bow out after WV? I sure do hope so. At least he offered to donate, as we are going to need it in the fall.

  11. yvonne

    Question for the demacrats who say they won't vote for Barack in November. Who do you think will be feeling the economic squeeze for another eight years? THAT SHOULD JOLT YOU BACK TO REALITY!


    Obama Supporters being Negative?!?!?

    As an Obama Supporter, Do you know how many snide little comments I have heard. Everything you claim is happening to poor HRC is unfounded. True Democrats will back their nominee EVEN if it is not their preference because they understand it is for the good of the party for us to UNITE and for the good of the country to get the republicans out of office. A Vote for McCain because you are pouting over HRC, means good-bye to Roe vs. Wade, Hello 100 years of bloodshed in Iraq, Hello War with Iran, Hello Corporations making record profits while the rest of us starve.

    More so I have yet to see any actual reasons for not wanting to support Barack other then "I don't like him, I like Hillary", SO PLEASE TELL ME SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL. And if you are going to read off of the GOP lie sheet or from some hate-email, make sure to get it RIGHT! (So far my absolute favorite lie/story, is that Barack is rich, his dad is the King of Nigeria, and that he is a muslim that goes to a christian church to hear hate. LOL).

    End the divisiveness. End the hate. Educate yourself and make a knowledgeable decision. Enough of this pouting and threats that you are going to take your vote and go home.

    DEMOCRAT '08

    May 13, 2008 10:34 am at 10:34 am |
  13. Michelle

    What about Al Gore for Vice President??!!

  14. Boston for Obama

    Thank you for your honesty Mr. Carville. After reading the article from the Washington Post today on the racisim the Obama backers have faced in Indiana to name one, your words are appreciated. I can't believe my people are still outright racist against a person of color. This 2008! It's time to expose those backwood communities into cities with populations of every race in the USA. Stop the segregation and we will have change.

  15. elvis presley & freddie mercury

    »»VICTORY!...VICTORY!...Hillary "So FAKE" Clinton :- Aren´t you ASHAMED of trying to DECEIVE millions of American Voters.Especially the LESS EDUCATED?!?!??!?...SHAME on YOU Hillary!!!»»Even a 5 year old kid can UNDERSTAND that the great Barack Obama is muuuuuuuch BETTER than that ANNOYING Woman!!...HURRAH for OBAMA!!...GOODBYE Clinton(s)!!!...Aaaah!...I knew it. »»This is the WAY!!...

  16. soothsayer

    Well it must be so if James Carville says it. right? He has probably been told by the Clinton campaign to come out first and say this. That way it cushions the fall for Hillary. Since people wonder if they can face reality.

  17. CJP, Arkansas

    The Democratic Party will unite. The Clinton supporters that will not vote for Obama are not looking out for the good of this country. Any way you slice it, McCain WILL be four more years of the Bush policies. As a lifelong Democrat, I cannot see how a true Democrat will vote for McCain. Those that vote for McCain are letting their hurt feelings rule their vote instead of sound judgement. Race is still a big issue for many in this country, and I think that this presidential race has lanced a big wound that this country has yet to face. Yes, there are still some VERY racist people in this country. I am a white woman that work with other whites that say some very racial things under their breath, BUT one would NEVER see them as racist. It is going to take several generations to eliminate such attitudes, if ever.

  18. Karen in TX

    I am a Clinton supporter but I will vote for Obama if he's the nominee since the policies are about 95% the same. However, many of the Obama supporters are very disappointing with their continuous attacks on Hillary. You can unite the party while you continue to do that. So use your brain also just like Clinton supporters need to vote for Obama. It works both ways.

  19. Tim Raymond

    American in Canada,

    No one launched an attack on Hillary, except Hillary. She brokered the peace talks in Ireland, she dodged sniper fire in Bosnia, Nafta, money from Columbia etc.etc. She can't open her mouth without lying. Experience? What, living in the white house. Having tea's with the wives in other country's? THAT'S experence? What has she done for NY? According to the blogs, NOTHING !!! She & our "great" govenor, Grandholm are in each other pockets. She is such a fake. Oh, & by her own statements. SHE will get all the uneducated "white" vote's.
    Isn't that racist?? I'm not "against" a woman running, but NOT THIS WOMAN. And the officials in MI & Fl sold their states down the river.
    They can't break the rules & then try to turn them around. I didn't vote in the primarys because I "knew" my vote wouldn't count. We need to recall our officials not "cheat" to get seated.

    Mad white gramma
    Obama !!!!!!

  20. Tony Z- MD

    Good job- Mr. Carville. This lets us know the HRC end is near.

  21. Rick from Bowie

    This is absolute non-sense that Carville would not have made this proclimation weeks ago. This is a waste of time to keep dragging this nomination process out. It may protend the inability to make real progress once in office. These people do not see the big picture at all.

  22. NIC

    Carville in 2012

  23. Andy

    Might as well let this keep going. Hillary's attack machine will find something on Obama that the Republicans haven't already found.

    May 13, 2008 10:35 am at 10:35 am |
  24. Nathan Johnson

    I love all of these conspiracy theorist who claim that the media, the public, the DNC, and dare I say it...God is against Hillary. Hillary's demise is her own doing. Americans emphatically stated that they would no longer tolerate "politics as usual" and that is exactly the way she campaigned. Tough luck!!!!!

  25. Reggy Mack

    There is a lot of people with hate here. Listen Hillary supporters. Hillary is losing badly right now fair and square and that's even if you count FL and Mi. All of the candidates signed the same agreement to not include these states, so what is the problem. Are you people that's complaining not people of your word like Hillary. Why wouldn't Hillary agree with the Mi suggestion of 69/59 for her. She wants it all which is not fair at all. This is the bottom line and we all need to face it without talking a bunch of bull.
